Abstract: The present paper considers the steady free
convection boundary layer flow of a viscoelastics fluid with constant
temperature in the presence of heat generation. The boundary layer
equations are an order higher than those for the Newtonian (viscous)
fluid and the adherence boundary conditions are insufficient to
determine the solution of these equations completely. The governing
boundary layer equations are first transformed into non-dimensional
form by using special dimensionless group. Computations are
performed numerically by using Keller-box method by augmenting
an extra boundary condition at infinity and the results are displayed
graphically to illustrate the influence of viscoelastic K, heat
generation γ , and Prandtl Number, Pr parameters on the velocity
and temperature profiles. The results of the surface shear stress in
terms of the local skin friction and the surface rate of heat transfer in
terms of the local Nusselt number for a selection of the heat
generation parameterγ (=0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0) are obtained and
presented in both tabular and graphical formats. Without effect of the
internal heat generation inside the fluid domain for which we take
γ = 0.0, the present numerical results show an excellent agreement
with previous publication.
Abstract: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of
the oxygen used in bacteria mediated oxidation of organic substances
in water and wastewater. Theoretically an infinite time is required for
complete biochemical oxidation of organic matter, but the
measurement is made over 5-days at 20 0C or 3-days at 27 0C test
period with or without dilution. Researchers have worked to further
reduce the time of measurement.
The objective of this paper is to review advancement made in
BOD measurement primarily to minimize the time and negate the
measurement difficulties. Survey of literature review in four such
techniques namely BOD-BARTTM, Biosensors, Ferricyanidemediated
approach, luminous bacterial immobilized chip method.
Basic principle, method of determination, data validation and their
advantage and disadvantages have been incorporated of each of the
methods.
In the BOD-BARTTM method the time lag is calculated for the
system to change from oxidative to reductive state. BIOSENSORS
are the biological sensing element with a transducer which produces
a signal proportional to the analyte concentration. Microbial species
has its metabolic deficiencies. Co-immobilization of bacteria using
sol-gel biosensor increases the range of substrate. In ferricyanidemediated
approach, ferricyanide has been used as e-acceptor instead
of oxygen. In Luminous bacterial cells-immobilized chip method,
bacterial bioluminescence which is caused by lux genes was
observed. Physiological responses is measured and correlated to
BOD due to reduction or emission.
There is a scope to further probe into the rapid estimation of BOD.
Abstract: As the demand for higher capacity in a cellular environment increases, the cell size decreases. This fact makes the role of suitable handoff algorithms to reduce both number of handoffs and handoff delay more important. In this paper we show that applying the grey prediction technique for handoff leads to considerable decrease in handoff delay with using a small number of handoffs, compared with traditional hystersis based handoff algorithms.
Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma, also called hepatoma, most
commonly appears in a patient with chronic viral hepatitis. In
patients with a higher suspicion of HCC, such as small or subtle
rising of serum enzymes levels, the best method of diagnosis
involves a CT scan of the abdomen, but only at high cost. The aim of
this study was to increase the ability of the physician to early detect
HCC, using a probabilistic neural network-based approach, in order
to save time and hospital resources.
Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attractive because of
their excellent chemical durability mechanical strength and electrical
properties. Therefore there is interest in CNTs for not only electrical
and mechanical application, but also biological and medical
application.
In this study, the dispersion power of surfactant-treated multiwalled
carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and their effect on the antibacterial
activity were examined. Surfactant was used sodium
dodecyl-benzenesulfonate (SDBS). UV-vis absorbance and
transmission electron microscopy(TEM) were used to characterize the
dispersion of MWCNTs in the aqueous phase, showing that the
surfactant molecules had been adsorbed onto the MWCNTs surface.
The surfactant-treated MWCNTs exhibited antimicrobial activities
to streptococcus mutans. The optical density growth curves and viable
cell number determined by the plating method suggested that the
antimicrobial activity of surfactant-treated MWCNTs was both
concentration and treatment time-dependent.
Abstract: In this work, we examine fluid mixing in a full three-stream mixing channel with longitudinal vortex generators (LVGs) built on the channel bottom by numerical simulation and experiment. The effects of the asymmetrical arrangement and the attack angle of the LVGs on fluid mixing are investigated. The results show that the micromixer with LVGs at a small asymmetry index (defined by the ratio of the distance from the center plane of the gap between the winglets to the center plane of the main channel to the width of the main channel) is superior to the micromixer with symmetric LVGs and that with LVGs at a large asymmetry index. The micromixer using five mixing modules of the LVGs with an attack angle between 16.5 degrees and 22.5 degrees can achieve excellent mixing over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. Here, we call a section of channel with two pairs of staggered asymmetrical LVGs a mixing module. Besides, the micromixer with LVGs at a small attack angle is more efficient than that with a larger attack angle when pressure losses are taken into account.
Abstract: The peng-Robinson (PR), a cubic equation of state (EoS), is extended to polymers by using a single set of energy (A1, A2, A3) and co-volume (b) parameters per polymer fitted to experimental volume data. Excellent results for the volumetric behavior of the 11 polymer up to 2000 bar pressure are obtained. The EoS is applied to the correlation and prediction of Henry constants in polymer solutions comprising three polymer and many nonpolar and polar solvents, including supercritical gases. The correlation achieved with two adjustable parameter is satisfactory compared with the experimental data. As a result, the present work provides a simple and useful model for the prediction of Henry's constant for polymer containing systems including those containing polar, nonpolar and supercritical fluids.
Abstract: A thin coating of hexamethyldisiloxane and subsequent O2-plasma treatment was performed on mirror-polished titanium in order to regulate the wide range of wettability including 106 and almost 0 degrees of contact angles. The adsorption behavior of
fibronectin and albumin in both individual and competitive mode,
and initial attachment of fibroblasts and osteoblasts were investigated.
Individually, fibronectin adsorption showed a biphasic inclination, whereas albumin showed greater adsorption to hydrophobic surfaces.
In competitive mode, in solution containing both fibronectin and albumin, fibronectin showed greater adsorption on hydrophilic
surfaces, whereas Alb predominantly adsorbed on hydrophobic
surfaces. Initial attachment of both cells increased with increase in
surface wettability, in particular, on super-hydrophilic surface, which
correlated well with fibronectin adsorption in competitive mode.
These results suggest that a cold plasma-surface modification enabled
to regulate the surface wettability, and fibronectin adsorption may be
responsible for increasing cell adhesion on hydrophilic surfaces in a
body fluid
Abstract: This paper considers a multi criteria cell formation
problem in Cellular Manufacturing System (CMS). Minimizing the
number of voids and exceptional elements in cells simultaneously are
two proposed objective functions. This problem is an Np-hard
problem according to the literature, and therefore, we can-t find the
optimal solution by an exact method. In this paper we developed two
ant algorithms, Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Max-Min Ant
System (MMAS), based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Both
of them try to find the efficient solutions based on efficiency concept
in DEA. Each artificial ant is considered as a Decision Making Unit
(DMU). For each DMU we considered two inputs, the values of
objective functions, and one output, the value of one for all of them.
In order to evaluate performance of proposed methods we provided
an experimental design with some empirical problem in three
different sizes, small, medium and large. We defined three different
criteria that show which algorithm has the best performance.
Abstract: In recent years various types of electric vehicles
has gained again increasing attention as an environmentally
benign technology in transport. Especially for urban areas with
high local pollution this Zero-emission technology (at the point
of use) is considered to provide proper solutions. Yet, the bad
economics and the limited driving ranges are still major barriers
for a broader market penetration of battery electric vehicles
(BEV) and of fuel cell vehicles (FCV). The major result of our
analyses is that the most important precondition for a further
dissemination of BEV in urban areas are emission-free zones.
This is an instrument which allows the promotion of BEV
without providing excessive subsidies. In addition, it is
important to note that the full benefits of EV can only be
harvested if the electricity used is produced from renewable
energy sources. That is to say, it has to be ensured that the use of
BEV in urban areas is clearly linked to a green electricity
purchase model. And moreover, the introduction of a CO2-
emission-based tax system would support this requirement.
Abstract: Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), an avian
paramyxovirus, is a highly contagious, generalised virus disease of
domestic poultry and wild birds characterized by gastro-intestinal,
respiratory and nervous signs. In this study, it was shown that NDV
strain AF2240 and V4-UPM are cytolytic to Human Promyelocytic
Leukemia, HL60 and Human T-lymphoblastic Leukemia, CEM-SS
cells. Results from MTT cytolytic assay showed that CD50 for NDV
AF2240 against HL60 was 130 HAU and NDV V4-UPM against
HL60 and CEM-SS were 110.6 and 150.9 HAU respectively.
Besides, both strains were found to inhibit the proliferation of cells in
a dose dependent manner. The mode of cell death either by apoptosis
or necrosis was further analyzed using acridine orange and propidium
iodide (AO/PI) staining. Our results showed that both NDV strains
induced primarily apoptosis in treated cells at CD50 concentration. In
conclusion, both NDV strains caused cytolytic effects primarily via
apoptosis in leukemia cells.
Abstract: The biological activity of A. pullulans isolates against
species of the genus Fusarium, bacteria of the genus Azotobacter and
pseudomonads colonizing wheat kernels was evaluated. A field
experiment was carried out in 2009-2011, in north-eastern Poland.
Winter wheat (cv. Bogatka) plants were sprayed with a cell
suspension of A. pullulans at a density of 106 - 108 per cm3 water at
the stem elongation stage and the heading stage. Untreated plants
served as control. The abundance of epiphytic yeasts, bacteria of the
genus Azotobacter, pseudomonads and Fusarium pathogens on wheat
grain was estimated at harvest and after six months’ storage. The
average size of yeast communities was significantly greater on wheat
kernels treated with a cell suspension of A. pullulans, compared with
control samples. In 2010-2011, biological control reduced the
abundance of some species of the genus Fusarium.
Abstract: In a state-of-the-art industrial production line of
photovoltaic products the handling and automation processes are of
particular importance and implication. While processing a fully
functional crystalline solar cell an as-cut photovoltaic wafer is subject
to numerous repeated handling steps. With respect to stronger
requirements in productivity and decreasing rejections due to defects
the mechanical stress on the thin wafers has to be reduced to a
minimum as the fragility increases by decreasing wafer thicknesses.
In relation to the increasing wafer fragility, researches at the
Fraunhofer Institutes IPA and CSP showed a negative correlation
between multiple handling processes and the wafer integrity. Recent
work therefore focused on the analysis and optimization of the dry
wafer stack separation process with compressed air. The achievement
of a wafer sensitive process capability and a high production
throughput rate is the basic motivation in this research.
Abstract: Nowadays, the demand for high product quality
focuses extensive attention to the quality of machined surface. The
(CNC) milling machine facilities provides a wide variety of
parameters set-up, making the machining process on the glass
excellent in manufacturing complicated special products compared to
other machining processes. However, the application of grinding
process on the CNC milling machine could be an ideal solution to
improve the product quality, but adopting the right machining
parameters is required. In glass milling operation, several machining
parameters are considered to be significant in affecting surface
roughness. These parameters include the lubrication pressure, spindle
speed, feed rate and depth of cut. In this research work, a fuzzy logic
model is offered to predict the surface roughness of a machined
surface in glass milling operation using CBN grinding tool. Four
membership functions are allocated to be connected with each input
of the model. The predicted results achieved via fuzzy logic model
are compared to the experimental result. The result demonstrated
settlement between the fuzzy model and experimental results with the
93.103% accuracy.
Abstract: From past many decades human beings are suffering
from plethora of natural disasters. Occurrence of disasters is a
frequent process; it changes conceptual myths as more and more
advancement are made. Although we are living in technological era
but in developing countries like Pakistan disasters are shaped by
socially constructed roles. The need is to understand the most
vulnerable group of society i.e. females; their issues are complex in
nature because of undermined gender status in the society. There is a
need to identify maximum issues regarding females and to enhance
the achievement of millennium development goals (MDGs). Gender
issues are of great concern all around the globe including Pakistan.
Here female visibility in society is low, and also during disasters, the
failure to understand the reality that concentrates on double burden
including productive and reproductive care. Women have to
contribute a lot in society so we need to make them more disaster
resilient. For this non-structural measures like awareness, trainings
and education must be carried out. In rural and in urban settings in
any disaster like earthquake or flood, elements like gender
perspective, their age, physical health, demographic issues contribute
towards vulnerability. In Pakistan the gender issues in disasters were
of less concern before 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods. Significant
achievements are made after 2010 floods when gender and child cell
was created to provide all facilities to women and girls. The aim of
the study is to highlight all necessary facilities in a disaster to build
coping mechanism in females from basic rights till advance level
including education.
Abstract: By using the method of coincidence degree theory and constructing suitable Lyapunov functional, several sufficient conditions are established for the existence and global exponential stability of anti-periodic solutions for Cohen-Grossberg shunting inhibitory neural networks with delays. An example is given to illustrate our feasible results.
Abstract: The dynamics of Min proteins plays a center role in
accurate cell division. Although the nucleoids may presumably play
an important role in prokaryotic cell division, there is a lack of
models to account for its participation. In this work, we apply the
lattice Boltzmann method to investigate protein oscillation based on a
mesoscopic model that takes into account the nucleoid-s role. We
found that our numerical results are in reasonably good agreement
with the previous experimental results On comparing with the other
computational models without the presence of nucleoids, the
highlight of our finding is that the local densities of MinD and MinE
on the cytoplasmic membrane increases, especially along the cell
width, when the size of the obstacle increases, leading to a more
distinct cap-like structure at the poles. This feature indicated the
realistic pattern and reflected the combination of Min protein
dynamics and nucleoid-s role.
Abstract: A series of 1-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-3-(substituted phenyl)-2-propen-1-one were allowed to react with hydrazine hydrate and phenyl hydrazine in submitted reactions to get pyrazoline and phenyl pyrazoline derivatives. All the compounds entered for screening at the Tuberculosis Antimicrobial Acquisition and Coordinating Facility (TAACF) for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain (ATCC 27294) using Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA) susceptibility test. The results expressed as MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) in μg/mL. Among the fifteen compounds, eight compounds were found to have MIC values less than 10 μg/mL. These were subjected for cytotoxicity assay in VERO cells to determine CC50 (cytotoxic concentration 50%) values and finally SI (Selectivity Index) were calculated. Compound (XV) 2-[5-(4- fluorophenyl)-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-3-pyrazolyl]-1Hbenzimidazole was considered the best candidate of the series that could be a good starting point to develop new lead compounds in the fight against tuberculosis.
Abstract: Various sounds generated in the chest are included in
auscultation sound. Adaptive Noise Canceller (ANC) is one of the
useful techniques for biomedical signal. But the ANC is not suitable
for auscultation sound. Because the ANC needs two input channels as
a primary signal and a reference signals, but a stethoscope can
provide just one input sound. Therefore, in this paper, it was
proposed the Single Input ANC (SIANC) for suppression of breath
sound in a cardiac auscultation sound. For the SIANC, it was
proposed that the reference generation system which included Heart
Sound Detector, Control and Reference Generator. By experiment
and comparison, it was confirmed that the proposed SIANC was
efficient for heart sound enhancement and it was independent of
variations of a heartbeat.
Abstract: Several valve stiction models have been proposed in the literature to help understand and study the behavior of sticky valves. In this paper, an alternative black-box modeling approach based on Neural Network (NN) is presented. It is shown that with proper network type and optimum model structures, the performance of the developed NN stiction model is comparable to other established method. The resulting NN model is also tested for its robustness against the uncertainty in the stiction parameter values. Predictive mode operation also shows excellent performance of the proposed model for multi-steps ahead prediction.